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Family, Ageing, Community & Disability Services

We are committed to delivering a guaranteed adequate income to all Australians, so as to assure people have appropriate support. Accessible social services, community resources and income support are essential for ensuring everybody has access to quality health care, housing, employment, education and training. The Greens are committed to increasing Newstart Allowance and raising all income support payments to better reflect the cost of living.

The community and not-for-profit sector plays an important role in our society and Government needs to commit funding and support accordingly.

People who experience disability, and their families and carers deserve access to life-long support and services that meet their individual circumstances. They should have the opportunity to actively participate in planning and delivery of policies, services and supports in areas such as education, health, housing, mobility, employment and social engagement. The Greens are actively working to ensure all Australians have independence, self-determination and choice in their lives.

The Federal Government should follow up its $2b. support of the construction industry with an equally significant support package for public housing construction, according to the Australian Greens.

Housing Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, said the federal government should make an initial $2 billion down-payment on public and not for profit housing, which would mean more than 6,000 homes would be build for low-income families - providing construction jobs along the way.

"As a start, the federal government should be at least looking to match its $2b. fund to prop up construction of shopping malls and commercial property with support for public housing."

The Federal Government should follow up its $2b. support of the construction industry with an equally significant support package for public housing construction, according to the Australian Greens.

Housing Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, said the federal government should make an initial $2 billion down-payment on public and not for profit housing, which would mean more than 6,000 homes would be build for low-income families - providing construction jobs along the way.

"As a start, the federal government should be at least looking to match its $2b. fund to prop up construction of shopping malls and commercial property with support for public housing."

"The increased first home owners grant is no silver bullet. The housing market's got a quick shot in the arm, but that will soon pass if no action is taken to address the critical shortage of public housing."

"The increased first home owners grant is no silver bullet. The housing market's got a quick shot in the arm, but that will soon pass if no action is taken to address the critical shortage of public housing."

Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam says the government’s boost to first home owners’ grants isn’t solving the housing crisis, as new figures show Western Australia having the second highest rate of Mortgage defaults in Australia.

“According to Fitch Ratings Western Australians are amongst those struggling the most to keep their homes. The first homebuyers grant encourages people to start a mortgage, but where are the housing affordability initiatives that help with mortgage stress.”

Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam says the government’s boost to first home owners’ grants isn’t solving the housing crisis, as new figures show Western Australia having the second highest rate of Mortgage defaults in Australia.

“According to Fitch Ratings Western Australians are amongst those struggling the most to keep their homes. The first homebuyers grant encourages people to start a mortgage, but where are the housing affordability initiatives that help with mortgage stress.”

The Australian Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam says the Prime Minister must take immediate action on homelessness after failing to deliver during his first twelve months in office.

The Senator issued the call after Australians for Ending Homelessness launched their five point plan in Canberra this morning and the federal government clocked up one year in office.

"Despite making homelessness a high-order priority when he took office a year ago, Mr Rudd hasn't delivered. We're still waiting for an increased investment in preventative measures, funding for support services, and for increased support for public housing. We're still waiting for a united and coordinated response across all areas of government so we can effectively address homelessness," said Senator Ludlam.

The Australian Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam says the Prime Minister must take immediate action on homelessness after failing to deliver during his first twelve months in office.

The Senator issued the call after Australians for Ending Homelessness launched their five point plan in Canberra this morning and the federal government clocked up one year in office.

"Despite making homelessness a high-order priority when he took office a year ago, Mr Rudd hasn't delivered. We're still waiting for an increased investment in preventative measures, funding for support services, and for increased support for public housing. We're still waiting for a united and coordinated response across all areas of government so we can effectively address homelessness," said Senator Ludlam.

I concur with many of the concerns that were raised by Senator Payne around the way the scheme will actually function once it has been operating for a couple of years. We recognise that, as the government has put it, it is quite an adaptive policy and that it is intended to be changed according to the uptake-the rate at which the community sector or the private sector eventually decide to take on the scheme.

We will also be following this with a great deal of interest, as the successive rounds under the NRAS roll out, to assess whether it is actually meeting the demand. The demand has obviously reached appalling proportions.

I concur with many of the concerns that were raised by Senator Payne around the way the scheme will actually function once it has been operating for a couple of years. We recognise that, as the government has put it, it is quite an adaptive policy and that it is intended to be changed according to the uptake-the rate at which the community sector or the private sector eventually decide to take on the scheme.

We will also be following this with a great deal of interest, as the successive rounds under the NRAS roll out, to assess whether it is actually meeting the demand. The demand has obviously reached appalling proportions.

"The Greens welcome the passage of the National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill and hope it will provide some overdue relief to renters, but we're disappointed that the government passed up an opportunity to green it up," Australian Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said.

Senator Ludlam moved to amend the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) this afternoon, but the amendments failed without government support.

"The Greens welcome the passage of the National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill and hope it will provide some overdue relief to renters, but we're disappointed that the government passed up an opportunity to green it up," Australian Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said.

Senator Ludlam moved to amend the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) this afternoon, but the amendments failed without government support.

The Australian Greens will move to give cost of living relief to renters today, by amending the government's housing affordability plan.

"Housing affordability is about more than just reducing the cost of a rental. It is also about reducing cost of living expenses, like petrol, electricity and water," said the Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

The Australian Greens will move to give cost of living relief to renters today, by amending the government's housing affordability plan.

"Housing affordability is about more than just reducing the cost of a rental. It is also about reducing cost of living expenses, like petrol, electricity and water," said the Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.